June 3, 2009
Interview with Niko Han taken from Faried Kei Lanur's upcoming book Manga & Martial Arts.
1. You are the first and only one BJJ Black Belt in Indonesia, an art that is still unknown amongst most Indonesians. Tell us about its debut in the archipelago?
I returned to Indonesia in July 2003, when I started teaching the gentle martial art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to whoever was interested. Since there was already a nationally televised MMA event, I first thought BJJ was going to be selling itself like it did in the United States after the first Ultimate Fighting Championship, but that was not the case. Since Indonesia doesn’t have a pay-per-view channel, the whole nation completely missed out on the worldwide BJJ boom in 1993 caused by Royce Gracie in the first UFC, and unfortunately also the second UFC boom 12 years later after the first season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show in 2005. It was thus much more difficult to spread the phenomenal martial art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Indonesia. The only ones that were interested in learning BJJ were the very few hardcore MMA fans. Nobody else knew anything about it or even understood what it’s all about. It was and is still a challenge to spread Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in my home country. I’m not here to step on anybody’s toes, I just want to share with the Indonesian martial arts community what Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is all about.
I’m convinced that once they understand that I’m here to share my knowledge and passion for the Art, they will become just as fascinated with Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as I am. It’s an amazing, genius-level, self-defense system and philosophy. Since a lot of the Asian martial arts are quite dogmatic and are taught not to question what they learn, it has been quite a challenge to spread BJJ in this region without offending anybody. My approach to this is not to challenge and question their martial arts, but rather to say that BJJ will compliment their styles and make them a more complete martial artist. Usually once the person has felt the power of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, they will realize sooner or later what is actually effective and what is not in a real-life self-defense situation.
2. How do you see the development of BJJ in Indonesia?
I think BJJ has come a long way since 2003. Since I organized the first BJJ competition in 2005, the Indonesian Submission Championship, and founded Synergy Jiu-Jitsu Academy, the Indonesian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, and the Indonesian Grappling Federation in 2004, the level of BJJ has improved incredibly. Synergy Jiu-Jitsu now has close to 300 members and it’s growing everyday. I’m doing everything I can to keep the standard of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as high as possible, and so far it’s looking really good. I am very proud of all my students, and very honored that they want to learn from me. Thanks to our sponsor Djarum Super, we are able to conduct BJJ seminars and competitions throughout the country in order to popularize Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the sport of Submission Grappling. Through our events we are able to open people’s minds and showcase the beauty and effectiveness of BJJ. Now more and more people are becoming fascinated and interested in learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
3. BJJ has made great changes in the MMA world since the first UFC in 1993. Today, it is a must to have solid basics in BJJ to shine in MMA events. How do you explain that?
The Gracies have proven that the single most effective and efficient martial art is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The Gracies took all the chokeholds and joint-lock that they learned from Mitsuyo Maeda (aka Conde Koma, or Count Coma) and modified them so that they can be applied in a reality based hand-to-hand combat situation, only using techniques that are effective and efficient against a fully resisting opponent. The fact is, the most efficient way to defend oneself against a larger and stronger attacker is to take the fight to the ground, and since over 95% of all self-defense situations and altercations end up on the ground, it is imperative to know how to defend oneself in that environment. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the only battle-tested martial art that approaches these situations in a realistic manner. It was specifically developed to allow a smaller person to defeat a larger adversary by sophisticated application of leverage and proper technique, using the attacker’s force to their advantage. I feel the Gracies have gone back to our pure animal instinct by imitating nature, not by imitating how animals behave, but rather simply imitating how animals move when they fight. Without having a good understanding of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu system and philosophy, it is impossible to be successful in MMA.
4. A lot of Mangaka (Manga drawers) show the art of BJJ in the Mangas (comics). Do you read Mangas, or have you?
Actually the first time I read one is with you. I must say that the Mangas I read depict BJJ and the Art of hand-to-hand combat in a very realistic manner, I was pleasantly surprised.
5. If you had to fight Leon Gracielo (remember, the comics that I brought in Bali last time), do you think you can beat him? How?
Since Leon Gracielo’s character is based on Grand Master Helio Gracie himself, the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, I do not think I would have a chance in beating him.
6. Do you want to address a message to the readers?
I hope that everybody that starts learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu falls in love with it the same way I have. Training BJJ becomes like meditation, focusing purely on the moment and clearing our minds of all the negative emotions that are so destructive for our health, like stress, anger and frustration getting channeled into a positive direction. We learn a great deal about ourselves through BJJ, how to battle and let go of our ego, overcoming selfishness and fear, staying centered in a crisis, gaining self-confidence while at the same time improving our overall health and fitness level. BJJ is an incredibly fun and very safe martial art to practice. It is not only the most effective and efficient martial art, but its amazing philosophy also gives a tremendous positive spiritual contribution to our day-to-day lives. BJJ is a lifestyle, and it’s life changing.
